by Clara Blackwood
A Persephone woman is susceptible to depression when she is
dominated and limited by people who keep her bound to them.
‒ Jean Shinoda Bolen, Goddesses in Everywoman
At some point, she breaks entirely.
Does not yet know
this is the beginning of her freedom.
The weight of sadness, an iron crypt
immovable whose structure finally
collapses under its own strain.
Complicated further by unsolicited guests.
Most days she considers herself
a natural sadomasochist ‒
as the sun to the moon,
bird to the branch,
Jupiter to Europa ‒
no cycling past it.
But this time she will flee those
who try to bind her,
develop an allergic reaction ‒
a rash on the skin,
her upper back turning bright red
from inner heat and repressed rage
underneath a heavy Canadian winter coat.
— from Juniper Volume 1, Issue 2